Best Of Chicago

Best Summer 2014 Craft Fairs In Chicago

Do your walls look a little drab? Then consider heading to a summer arts and crafts fair in the Chicago area this summer to find just the right print, painting or decor for your home. Arts and crafts fairs are also a great way to spend time with friends while discovering new artists. This summer, consider heading to the following five arts and crafts fairs in the Chicago area.

Called the “Granddaddy of American Art Festivals,” the Gold Coast Art Fair at Grant Park features an assortment of art that includes jewelry, paintings, mixed media, sculpture, photography and more. The juried art festival has free admission, so spend the weekend looking for just the right painting for your home or a new set of jewelry. Leave the car at home, as this festival is accessible by El and by bus. There are plenty of food vendors at the festival and activities planned for kids.

Why only decorate your living room when you can add art to your garden or patio too? With the Chicago Botanic Garden Art Festival, you can choose from an assortment of botanic-inspired art that can be incorporated into your garden, including sculptures. Other art forms, including paintings and photography, can help you bring a bit of nature inside your home. Family drop-in activities and discussions are also planned during the festival. For additional information on vendors and admission, check out the Chicago Botanic Garden’s website.

If you’d like to take in a festival in Chicago’s Wrightwood neighborhood, then consider checking out the Lill Street Craft Fair at the Taste of Lincoln Avenue. The juried art fair has a range of artists, with jewelers, painters and more represented. While you’re at the festival, make time to explore the food vendors, and dance the day and night away with the event’s live music. Are you planning to attend with kids? The Taste of Lincoln Avenue has a carnival planned for children. The event will be held on Lincoln Avenue between Fullerton Avenue and Wrightwood Avenue.

During the Fiesta del Sol in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood, you can look for new art at the festival’s Art & Culture Pavilion and learn about different artistic expressions. At the festival, you can learn how to create your own art through planned workshops. Fiesta del Sol, considered the largest Latino festival in the Midwest, also celebrates other art forms, with a poetry and freestyle slam and Aztec dance groups planned during the event. Food vendors, children’s events and soccer games are also planned, and you can get to the festival via public transportation. The annual event historically attracts approximately one million people every year, making it one of the largest festivals in town.

End summer on a great note by checking out the Bucktown Arts Festival in Chicago’s Bucktown neighborhood. The festival, which has free admission, features the works of approximately 200 artists. Other art forms are celebrated at the festival as well, including poetry, theater and live music. You can also grab a bite to eat while exploring the festival grounds. The volunteer-run festival has free admission, and all proceeds from the festival support arts and education programs in Bucktown and Wicker Park.

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